# Dialects

gistfile1.md

I pronounce the # character a bunch of different ways, depending on the context:

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	pound python
#! in the first line of a script	hash bang (as in "hash bang bin bash")
#include in a C file	pound include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	sharp plus and sharp minus
#' Lisp reader thing	sharp quote
#(...) Clojure function	pound paren
this tweet is about #coffee	pound coffee (though I know it's called a "hash" tag)

Am I weird, or do other people do this too? Complete the table in a reply (and add any extra contexts I forgot):

| thing | how I say it |
| ----- | ------------ |
| `#python` on freenode irc | x |
| `#!` in the first line of a script | x |
| `#include` in a C file | x |
| `#+` and `#-` Lisp reader thingies | x |
| `#'` Lisp reader thing | x |
| `#(...)` Clojure function | x |
| this tweet is about `#coffee` | x |

I started to fill this out, and then I realized I've never spoken most of these aloud. If I'm referring to #python, I usually just say, "The python channel." Folks seem to know I'm not talking about TV. ;^)

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	python channel / pound python
#! in the first line of a script	shabang
#include in a C file	hash include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	x
this tweet is about #coffee	hashtag coffee

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	hash python
#! in the first line of a script	hashbang
#include in a C file	hash include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	not a lisper
this tweet is about #coffee	hashtag coffee

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	pound python
#! in the first line of a script	shuh-bang
#include in a C file	pound include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	pound (sharp/flat)
this tweet is about #coffee	hashtag coffee

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	hash python
#! in the first line of a script	hash bang
#include in a C file	hash include or pound include*
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	I don't really Lisp, but I would say hash
this tweet is about #coffee	hash coffee

• The pound version is new. It basically depends on who I'm talking to. I am from the UK, and I'm pretty sure here we say hash for everything, but if I'm talking to an American I try to say pound include in this context.

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	pound python
#! in the first line of a script	shebang
#include in a C file	pound include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	nope
#' Lisp reader thing	nope
#(...) Clojure function	nope
this tweet is about #coffee	hashtag coffee

Octothorpe

thing	how I say it
#python on freenode irc	python channel
#! in the first line of a script	shebang
#include in a C file	hash include
#+ and #- Lisp reader thingies	sharp plus, sharp minus
#' Lisp reader thing	sharp
#(...) Clojure function	hash mangled
this tweet is about #coffee	coffee hashtag

'Hash' in most contexts, unless I've been taught that the proper noun for that sequence was different in the case of lisp and of course C#

When communicating with non-techies I usually go for 'hash' or 'the number symbol'